It might be Stoke’s goal of the season. This might be their game of the season – 90 minutes of incredible drama, of brilliant attacking, dodgy defending and, frankly, bad refereeing.

Southampton’s bid to rule at the Britannia began superbly. It seemed as though Saints would succeed where Arsenal, Manchester City, Everton and Liverpool had failed. It looked like they would win and end Stoke’s proud, unbeaten home record.

Led by Rickie Lambert, who scored one goal and made two more, they had a wonderful first half. In the first four and a half months of the season, only three visiting players had scored a league goal at the Britannia. In the first half-hour yesterday, two Southampton strikers did.

“You look at our first-half performance and it was top-drawer,” Adkins added. “Lambert and Jay Rodriguez were outstanding together.”

Lambert was first to make his mark, volleying in Guly do Prado’s deep cross. Then he turned supplier. When Lambert crossed, a stretching Robert Huth volleyed the ball against his own bar. Rodriguez was left with an open goal. He didn’t miss.

Having lost two of their regular defenders, the suspended Ryan Shawcross and Geoff Cameron, Stoke lost three goals. The third came from one of their own, Andy Wilkinson, slicing the ball past Asmir Begovic after Lambert headed Jason Puncheon’s cross towards Rodriguez.

“We were shocking in the first half,” Pulis said. “We didn’t deserve anything.” Yet Stoke had shown their threat in attack, levelling after Lambert’s goal.

Forget the long throw that made Rory Delap famous – this was the short throw. Ryan Shotton took it, got a return pass from Michael Kightly and delivered a low cross. Kenwyne Jones met it with a delicate finish to score against his old club.

Cameron’s effort was fantastic

Tony Pulis

Jones had missed an easier chance earlier. Rodriguez spurned two simpler opportunities later. When Begovic saved the second, following a wonderful pass from Lambert, Do Prado had an open goal from the rebound. He missed.

“That could have put us 4-1 up,” Adkins added. “Obviously it didn’t.”

But it galvanised Stoke. A minute later, they had a lifeline. After Jones had a shot blocked by Jose Fonte, Matthew Upson slid in to score.

The comeback could have been complete when Jones’s header hit the raised hand of Fonte. Strangely, referee Mark Clattenburg waved play on. Stranger still, he sent off Steven Nzonzi for a tackle on Jack Cork that was late but not dangerous.

“Tony was spitting feathers,” added Adkins. Pulis, having calmed down, said: “I hope Mark will look at it. The lad certainly doesn’t stamp. I was disappointed with the reaction of the player (Cork).”